“Asere” in Cuba, “corillo” in Puerto Rico, “motoconcho” in the Dominican Republic. These three slang terms are now included in the 24th edition of the Diccionario de la lengua española, which was unveiled in Madrid on October 30, 2026. Here’s what they mean—and what their inclusion reveals about the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.
“Asere,” the word for friendship in Cuba
“Asere” is a term used in Cuban colloquial speech. The dictionary lists two meanings for it. The first refers to someone with whom one has a very close friendship. The second is used as a term of endearment to address someone in a familiar, trusting tone, similar to how one might say “my buddy” in French. The variant “acere” also appears in the dictionary.
The word hasn’t always had a good reputation. Associated for generations with marginality, it is still considered vulgar by some Cubans. Yet it has spread beyond the inner circle. During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the Cuban national team was nicknamed “Team Asere.” In Madrid, during the presentation of the new edition, each national academy read aloud a word representative of its country. The Cuban Academy of Language chose “asere.” Its director, Jorge Fornet Gil, sees it as a “now-classic” Cubanism that “stems from oral tradition”—a word that became widely used in speech before making its way into books.
"Cocotaxi," the tricycle that goes with "asere"
“Asere” isn’t the only new entry. One hundred Cubanisms have been added to this edition, including “cocotaxi.” The dictionary defines it as a motorized tricycle that transports passengers around town, with a two-seater bench behind the driver. Its semi-spherical body gives it its name and shape, since “coco” refers to the coconut.
"Corillo," the group of friends from Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, a “corillo” is a group of people bound by friendship or a shared interest. It’s the group you hang out with, chat with, and go out with. Whereas “asere” refers to a single person, “corillo” refers to several. The dictionary classifies it as a Puerto Rican word, not a word used throughout the Spanish-speaking world, which acknowledges its specific use on the island. The word refers less to an individual than to a circle—the one to which one belongs.
"Motoconcho," the Dominicans' two-wheeled taxi
In the Dominican Republic, a “motoconcho” is an informal passenger transport service provided by motorcycle. The word also refers to the driver who provides the ride. It is derived from “concho,” a Dominican term for a vehicle used as public transportation. For a French speaker, the word immediately brings to mind a motorcycle. A slang term, now officially recorded in the reference work.
With “asere,” the dictionary no longer uses the term “Antilles”
These three words now have specific labels. In the 23rd edition, the RAE indicated where a word was used by referring to broad regions such as “America,” “Central America,” or “the Antilles.” The 24th edition replaces these with the names of the countries. A word is no longer classified under “Antilles.” It is Cuban, Puerto Rican, or Dominican, depending on the country where the person lives.
The dictionary brings together 99,990 entries and nearly 209,000 definitions (the meanings of words), twelve years after the 2014 edition. It includes 20,672 definitions marked as originating from a country in the Americas. The academies also proposed 1,570 words specific to a single country and 1,490 demonyms, or names for the inhabitants of a country. It is also the first edition designed primarily for digital use, with the print version derived from the online version.
For the regions in question, the contribution is tangible. Their vocabulary is no longer diluted in a vague zone; it bears the names of Cuba, Puerto Rico, or the Dominican Republic. Their words become searchable references, and their inhabitants see their way of speaking officially recognized. Three words, three territories, three ways of referring to friends, groups, and journeys. One question remains for the other languages of the Caribbean—Creole, English, and Dutch. Which everyday words will one day see their territory spelled out in full in a reference dictionary?
Frequently asked questions
“Asere” is a Cuban slang term that refers to a very close friend. It is also used to address someone in a familiar, friendly tone. The variant “acere” also exists.
A “corillo” is a group of people bound by friendship or a shared interest. The dictionary lists it as a word specific to Puerto Rico.
A “motoconcho” is an informal passenger transport service provided by motorcycle. The term also refers to the driver.
